The Forbidden Throb (Emma and Daniel) novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Emma’s POV:

I nodded slowly. “I woke up and found him checking my chart.

“So you just… happened to be taken to the hospital where he works?” Oliva exclaimed, her face lighting up with fascination.

Talk about destiny, Emma. You two seem to have quite the connection.”

“It’s purely coincidental,” I insisted, feeling a flutter of nervousness as Dalel’s strange proposal from last night resurfaced in my mind. “Though I have to admit, I’m thankful he was there.”

My mind raced, debating whether to tell Olivia about Daniel’s outlandish proposition.

The idea still seemed so absurd. It was the plot of a bad romantic comedy not something that happened in real life.

But Olivia had always given me solid advice before…

“There’s… something else,” I said hesitantly, picking at a loose thread on my comforter. “Daniel made a strange suggestion last night.”

Olivia immediately perked up, practically bouncing on the edge of my bed. I knew it! What did he say? Did he ask you out?”

“Not exactly.” I took a deep breath. “He actually suggested that we… get married. A marriage of convenience, to satisfy both our families and

get them off our backs about relationships.”

Olivia’s mouth dropped open. “Are you serious? That’s straight out of a movie!” She clapped her hands together in delight. “Oh my God, Emma,

he totally likes you!”

Calm down, Olivia,” I said, holding up my hands. “It’s not like that at all.”

“He’s just exhausted from constantly being set up on dates. I actually overheard the nurses talking about how the hospital director is trying to match him with his daughter Caroline. Apparently, he seems genuinely troubled by the whole situation. It would just be… mutually beneficial.”

I explained, fidgeting with my blanket. “Plus, our families apparently had some kind of marriage agreement generations ago. And now that Nicholas and I have broken up, Daniel thinks this arrangement could satisfy that old expectation while solving our current problems.”

“Mutually beneficial?” Olivia repeated, making air quotes with her fingers.

“Come on, Emma. A guy like Daniel Prescott could find a dozen ways to avoid unwanted setups if he wanted to. He chose this plan because it

involves you.”

I shook my head firmly, “You don’t understand. Our families have this… tory. His plan makes practical sense.”

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